it reads: X210 then a lower line that says "102033"I know it has to be between a 76 and a 82, but i don't know more than that. It's black with all original parts from what I can tell, and though she's beat she still plays good. Thanks to anyone who can help, Charlie.

From your description, I can assume it has the 'Wave' headstock, is solid black, has a set neck with a non-scooped heal and has two mini switches in front of the volume pots (as opposed to the push/pull switches that other models would have). These are often mistaken to be Endorsers, but us Veterans know better. Yours was made in February of 1981.

In 1980 SLM Electras started using the stamped serial numbers on the back of the headstock, the first digit indicates the last number of the production year (0=1980, 1=1981, ect.) the 2nd two digits indicate the month (01= Jan, 02= Feb, etc.). By mid/late 1981 they would use a seven digit number as production would exceed the mere 1000 units that the six digit number would handle.

From your description, I can assume it has the 'Wave' headstock, is solid black, has a set neck with a non-scooped heal and has two mini switches in front of the volume pots (as opposed to the push/pull switches that other models would have). These are often mistaken to be Endorsers, but us Veterans know better. Yours was made in February of 1981.

In 1980 SLM Electras started using the stamped serial numbers on the back of the headstock, the first digit indicates the last number of the production year (0=1980, 1=1981, ect.) the 2nd two digits indicate the month (01= Jan, 02= Feb, etc.). By mid/late 1981 they would use a seven digit number as production would exceed the mere 1000 units that the six digit number would handle.

Did some of the 1980 models not have a stamped serial number? In the post here viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6997 the index of models states that the x930 vulcans were made starting in 1980 but his (and the one pictured in the index) have the foil tag. Were these made before 1980 or were they made at a different factory?

_________________"This is the way that pop ends, Not with a BANG but with a box set whose fourth disc you never get around to playing” - Simon Reynolds

As far as I know all the MPC's had foil serial number tags (somebody correct me if I'm wrong). The last MPC's made would have been the X960 Ultima, X120 Leslie West and the X930 'Dot Neck' Dickie Betts Vulcan, which because of the foil tags, it is tough to say how late they were made, but I have a feeling that they discontinued them around 1982.

Some other models used the Foil Tags too (like the Semi Hollows and the Omegas), and it has yet to be determined whether the model was written on the tag in Japan or in St. Louis. My gut instincts are that they were tagged and marked in the USA. It is curious that they would use the foil tags on their most expensive offerings, but that seems to be the pattern. The foil tags are basically useless for dating, and as we've seen all too many times, the markings got 'cleaned' off or the tag got yanked off completely. Just a really poor decision on the part of SLM.